Method and apparatus for making rubber goods



P 1942- r o. A. STRASSMAN 2,297,663

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1 Feel F\c-1.3 F\G'.4

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939- 15 Sheets-Sheet ,2

OTTO A. STRASSMAN p 1942- 0. A. STRASbMAN 229L663 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

OTTO A. STRASSMAN Sept. 29, 1942. o. A. STRASSMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.8

Orf'ro A. STRASSMAN P 1942- o. A. STRASSMAN 2,297,663

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 9 A

Sept. ,1 o. A. STRASSMAN 2,297,663

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fm. IO

INVENTOR OTTO A. STRASSMAN ATTORNEY Sept 5 1941 c. A. STRASSMAN 2297563 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 54 FECLEZ I II N! li'illll III 52 60 5e 58 A 6k 7 a O I 53 O O 0 F16. a 49 I K MT 7 6 A 125 Fm Sept 29, o. A. sTRAssMAN 292979663 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 lNVENTOR mm A. Smwsmm ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1942. o. A. STRASSMAN 2,297,663

I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1959 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Fae. i8

OTTO A. STRAssMAN BY f ATTORNEY Sept 29, 1942. o. A. STRASSMAN 2,297,663

iVlETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheeflo INVENTOR OTTO A. STRASSMAN ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1942.

so an? e O. A. STRASSMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet ll p 1942 o. A. YSTRASSMAN 2,297,663

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR OTTO A. STRASSMAN ATTO RN EY Sept, 29, 1942. o. A. STRASSMAN 29 95 METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER GOODS Filed April 10, 1939 l3 Sheets-Sheet 1.3

OTTO A. STRASSMAN Minn 7 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1942 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING 4 RUBBER GOODS Otto A. Strassman, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Selberling Latex Products Company, Barberton,

Ohio, a corporation of 'Ohio Application April 10, 1939, Serial No. 267,154 20 Claims. (Cl. 18-24) This invention relates to apparatus for making deposited rubber goods, and in particular relates to methods and apparatus for finishing'deposited rubber articles, such as rubber gloves Or the like.

Heretofore, the finishing of rubber gloves and like articles made by dipping processes has been accomplished by a series of hand operations which include cutting the gloves on the form to length, removing the trimmings cut from the gloves and rolling reinforcing beads or rings of rubber at the edges of the wrists. It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide apparatus for carrying out these operations in a simple and inexpensive but highly effective manner whereby a more uniform and better product is obtained.

One object of the invention is to provide formconveying apparatus of the character described and improved devices for rapidly and releasably attaching forms in operative positions in said apparatus at one station whereby they can be easily and quickly removed from said apparatus at another station.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for trimming an article to length and more particularly cutting a peripheral strip about an article on a form which may be ovate or otherwise irregular in cross-section.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described means including a plurality of cutting elements for successively cutting peripheral strips about articles mounted on a plurality of forms, and in which automatic adjustment is made to accommodate the cutting elements to variations in the shape or taper of the several forms.

Another object is to provide in apparatus of the character described improved means for removing the trimmed excess deposited rubber stock from the clipping forms.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for forming reinforcing beads at the open ends of hollow or deposited rubber articles, such as rubber gloves Or the like.

Another object of the invention is .to provide apparatus of the character described for forming reinforcing beads on hollow rubber articles which are ovate or otherwise irregular in cross-section.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, are views of deposited rubber gloves on their dipping forms, illustrating various stages of the process of forming the reinforcing beads on the gloves in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 6, as viewed from the rear thereof.

Figure 9 is an end elevation, partly broken away in parts. of the apparatus shown in Figure 6, as viewed from the left thereof.

.trating the mechanism in Figure 10 is a cross-section of the driving mechanism, taken substantially on line ill-Iii of Figure 7.

' Figure 11 is a vertical cross-section taken sub -v stantially at li-i'l of Figure 6 illustrating the detail construction of one of the form-carrying heads.

Figure 12 is aside view thereof as viewed from I the right of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a cross-section taken on line I3-l 3 of Figure 11, showing ingreater detail the formlocking mechanism.

Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-section, taken on line H-lfi of Figure 12, of the form-locking mechanism.

Figure 15 is a cross-section taken on line l5-i 5 of Figure 12, showing the form-carrying head guide means.

Figure 16 is a detail front elevation of the cut-. ting 0r trimming mechanism in operative position.

Figure 17 is a side elevation as viewed from the right of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a plan view, partly broken away, of Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a cross-section taken on line I9-l 9 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a detail plan view, partly in section, of the strip removing mechanism, in the initial operativ position thereof.

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 20 illusan intermediat position.

Figure 22 is a section taken substantially on line 22-22 of Figure 20, as viewed from the rear thereof.

Figure 23 is an enlarged detail viewof the bead-rplling mechanism, shown at the right of Figure 9, in the initial stage of .the bead-rolling operation.

I Figure 24 is a cross-section taken substantially on line 24-24 of Figure 23, but showing the mechanism in inoperative position.

Figure 25 is a cross-section on line 2525 of Figure 23.

Figure 26 is a cross-section on line 26-46 of Figure 23.

Figure 27 is a cross-section on line 21-21 of Figure 23.

Figure 28-"is a cross-section on line 28-28 of Figure 23.

Figure 29 is a view, partly broken away and in section, of a modified form of bead-rolling mechanism in the inoperative position thereof.

Figure 30 is a vertical cross-section, taken sub stantially on line 36-36 of Figure 33, but with the mechanism illustrated in the inoperative positions shown in Figure 29.

Figure 31 is a view similar to Figure 36, taken substantially on line 3|-3| of Figure 33, and illustrating the bead-rolling operation.

Figure 32 is a view, similar to Figure 29, showing the mechanism in bead-forming relation to a form.

Figure 33 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of Figure 32.

Figure 34 is a cross-section taken substantially on line 34-34 of Figure 32, with the glove form removed.

Referring in particular to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, briefly the process embodying the invention may comprise first supplying glove forms 35. to the apparatus at loading station L, these forms havingthereon a thin coating 36 of rubber composition (see Figure 1), such as rubber latex or other acqueous dispersions of rubber, as will subsequently be described. Next the forms pass to a strip-cutting mechanism S where a strip 31 is out (see Figure 2) at the wrist portion of the glove. The forms 35, after passing from station S, have the strips 31 removed therefrom atthe strip removing station R, this-operation providing a uniform top edge on the glove (see Figure 3), in preparation for rolling the reinforcing bead 38 (see Figure 4), at stations B and 3*. After passing from the bead-rollingstations the forms may be removed and exposed to a suitable vulcanizing medium in suitable means (not shown), for curing the finished gloves on the forms.

In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, the apparatus, shown diagrammatically in Figure 5, is illustrated in greater detail, all parts, except where otherwise noted, being shown in inoperative positions. The numeral 46 designates a, suitable framework between which is mounted a support 4| for fixedly mounting a pair of upright rods 42, 43 which have secured on the upper ends thereof a suitably shaped bracket 44, the latter being additionally supported by a pair of shafts 45, 46 journalled at their upper and lower ends in bracket 44 and support 4|, respectively. The shafts 45, 46 may be intermittently driven, by

means subsequently to be described, in turn to.

drive pairs of sprockets 41, 41 and 48, 48 fixed in vertically spaced relation at the upper ends of shafts 45 and 46, respectively, thereby to drive a pair of endless chains 49, 49 engaged about said sprockets 41, 48 and pairs of similarly spaced idler sprockets 56, 56 and 5|, 5| rotatably supported on the fixed rods 42 and 43, respectively.

Connected to chains 49, 49 at 52, 52 may be a' series of spaced form-carrying heads 53 having rollers 54 at the upper end' thereof for rolling engagement on an endless track 55, along which the heads 53 are carried in depending relation to the various operating stations (see Figures 11 and 12). As best shown in Figure 15, a pair of rollers 56, 56 suitably mounted on.one side of each head 53, and roller 51 similarly mounted on the opposite side thereof are adapted to engage the inner surfaces of pairs of guide tracks 58, 58 and 59, 59, carried by frame 44, for retaining the heads in alignment while the same are in operative positions at the operating stations.

Journalled in bearings 66, 66 in each head 53 may be a shaft 6| rotatable, by means subsequently to be described, to turn the forms 35 thereon one or more revolutions at the operating stations S, R, B and B The downwardly extending end of shaft 6| preferably is provided with a quickly releasible clamping device 62 for retaining the forms 35 thereon. For this purpose, the end of shaft 6| preferably has oppositely disposed, longitudinally extending slots 63, 63 therein and a substantially U-shaped spring 64 may be secured in the connecting wall 65 between said slots so that the prongs 66 of the spring extend downwardly in the slots 63. The end of shaft 6| may be inserted in a suitable opening 61 in the top wall 61" of the hollow form 35, while prongs 66 are pressed together against the yieldin gaction thereof to permit outwardly extending flanged portions 68, 68 on the free ends of the prongs to pass through said opening, whereby when pressure on the prongs is released the flanges 68 will engage under the top wall 61 of the form. A lever 69, pivotally connected at 16, 16 to a suitable bracket 1| secured to shaft 6|, may be connected intermediate the ends thereof to pins 12, 12 extending from a block 13 slidably mounted on shaft 6|, the arrangement being such that downward pressure applied to the free end of lever 69 urges block 13 downwardly to engage outwardly bulging portions 14 on the prongs 66 and urge the latter inwardly, thereby to allow the flanges 68 to be passed through the opening 61 in form 35. When the form 35 is positioned on shaft 6| in this manner the flanges 68 are engaged under wall 61 by raising block 13 to permit the prongs 66 to expand outwardly, the block 13 being held in raised position by the bulged portions 14 on the prongs. A lug 15 extending from, bracket 1| may have threaded therein an adjustable screw 16 for urging a shoeplate 16" attached thereto and downwardly extending portions 1| of bracket 1| against the top of form 35, thereby firmly to fix the form on shaft 6| by clamping wall 61 of the form against the flanges 68. from shaft 6| by releasing shoe-plate 16 and pressing downwardly on lever 69 to disengage flanges 68 from under wall 61 of form 35.

Referring inparticular to Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, shafts 45 and 46 may be intermittently driven, to drive chains 49 and thereby carry form-carrying heads 53 in succession to each operating station L, S, R, B and B respectively, at which stations the heads'53 pause a sufiicient length of time to allow the respective operations to be performed (see Figure 5). To this end intermittent gears 18, 18, of known type, on the lower ends of shaft 45 and 46 are engageable with similar intermittent gears 19, 19 fixed on shafts 86, H suitably journalled in the support 4|, the shafts, 8| having worm gears 82, 82 meshing with worms 83, 83 on spaced shafts 84, 85 in driving engagement with each other through gears 86, 86, and shaft 85 being driven through a reduction 81 by a suitable motor 89.

As best shown in Figures '1 and 16 to 19, in-

Similarly, the form is removed elusive. the forms 35 upon stopping at station S may yieldably engage a pair of heated disc knives 99, 99 rotatably mounted in a pair of relatively slidable blocks 9|, 9I carried on the outer ends of pairs of upper and lower guide bars .92, 92 and 93, 93, respectively, which may be slidable between a central block 94 and inwardly extending flanges 95, 95 of a pair of side plates 96, 96 secured to opposite sides of block 94. The block 94 may be vertically adjustable on a bracket 91 to suit various types or lengths of gloves, by

means of a shaft 98 threaded through block 94 and rotatable in lugs 99, 99 extending from bracket 91, the block 94 preferably having a flat face thereof in sliding engagement with the in ner wall 91 of bracket 91, to prevent rotation of the block upon turning shaft 98 with a suitable tool (not shown). The knives may be retained in vertical adjustment by suitable means, such as nuts 98 on shaft 98.

Compression springs I99 and I9 I may be extended between the bracket 91 and bars 92 and 93 yieldingly to urge the latter, and the knives carried thereby, outwardly until pins' I92, I92 in bars 92, 93 engage the ends of slots I93, I93 in flanges 95 of side plates 96. In this position the knives or cutters 99 will be in predetermined alignment, substantially as shown in Figure'l9. The action of springs I99 and I9I permits the knives 99 to be relatively and yieldably shiftable until limited by pins I92 engaging the other ends of slots I93, to accommodate slight variations in the downward taper at the wrist portions of the forms. a

Additional yielding means may be provided.

to maintain the knives 99' in uniform contact with the forms 35, the latter being generally ovate in shape at the wrist portions about which the strip is cut from the rubber layer thereon by-rotation of the forms against the knives. To this end, bracket 91 preferably is carried by laterally extending rods I94, I95 and I96 slidably supported in bearings I91, I91 in a suitable frame I 99 while the same are paused at station S for a strip cutting operation, a bevel gear I24 keyed onshaft 6I depending from the head 53, may

meshwith a bevel gear I25 on a horizontally extending shaft I26 journalled in a bracket I21 carried by head 53. A clutch member I28 on the outer end of shaft I26 is intermittently engageable with a cooperating clutch member I29 on a continuously driven shaft I39, Journalled in bearings I3I of abracket I32 mounted on frame 49. Shaft I39 is continuously driven by a bevel gear I33 on shaft I39 meshing with a bevel gear I34 on a shaft I35, journaled in bearings I35 in frame I32, engaging a gear I31 on a shaft I38, the latter being driven by a chain I39 extended about sprockets I49 and I on shaft I38 and the continuously driven shaft 85 respectively.

Shaft I39 is normally yieldably urged outwardly'to retain clutch member I29 out of engagement with clutch member I28 on shaft I29, by means of a compression spring I42 extending between gear I33 and a collar I43 on shaft I39. Pivoted on bracket I32 is a bell-crank I44 having a roller I45 on-one arm I46 engaging the I93. Pivotally connected to rod I95 at I99 may end thereof a rod II1 which projects forwardlythrough boss H8 in a plate I I8 carried by frame I98, a compression spring I I9 being provided between plate III; and the end of arm II6 normally yieldably to urge arm II6 inwardly, and therefore urging the knives 99 outwardly, until limited by nuts I29 on rod II1 abutting the boss H9. The yielding pressure against arm I I9 may be adjusted through an adjusting screw I2I in a plate I22 secured to arm II9, screw I2I being in engagement with arm I'I3. Lateral adjustment of the normal stop position of bracket 91 may be accomplished by turning the nuts I29 on rod II1. V

The knives 99 preferably are heated by conduction to a predetermined temperature, by means of a thermostatically controlled heater I23 secured against one of the side plates 96, to facilitate cutting through the rubber layer 36 on forms 35:

For revolving the forms 35 against the knives outer end of shaft I39, and having another arm I41 engaged by a roller I48 on one end of a rod I99 slidably mounted in bearings I59 and I5I in bracket I32 and frame 49, respectively, Rod I49, may be reciprocated by means of a suitable cam I52 engaging a roller on the other end thereof, cam I52 being fixed on a shaft I53 journalled in bearings I54 and shaft I53 being driven, through meshing gears I55, and I56, by a shaft I51 journalled in bearings I 58.. Shaft I51 may be driven through gears I59 I69 by the previously described continuously driven shaft 8I. Cam I52 preferably is designed to coact with intermittent gears-so that as each form 35 pauses for a brief period at station S, rod I49 will be lifted against the yielding action of a spring I6I to urge shaft I39 inwardly against spring I42, thereby engaging the clutch members I23 and I29 with each other to rotate the form one and one half revolutions, for example, against the yielding action of the knives 99. This operation cuts a circumferential strip or band 31 inthe rubber layer 36 previously deposited on the form 35. After the form has turned one and one half revolutions asdesired to cut the strip 31, cam I52 allows rod I49 to drop, as urged by spring I6I, thereby to release clutch members I29 and I29. At this time the intermittent gears are actuated to advance the forms 35 toward succeeding operations,

the form at station S being advanced to a point I (see Figure 5) intermediate station S and the stripping station E, where it pauses while another series of operations is performed at the various stations.

A disc I25 on-the outer face of gear I25 may be provided with suitable recesses into which a ward a stopped position at' the stripping station R the previously cut band 31 may be yieldably engaged by a series of pointed hooks or pinsfll.

I which normally project inwardly slightlyinto the path of the moving form. While the form 25 is stopped in forward movement at station B.

it may be automatically turned through one and one half revolutions while hooks I65 are simultaneously moved rearwardly and outwardly of the form. Hooks I65, being relatively close together, initially break the band or strip 31, and as they are moved away from the'form the strip attached to the hooks is pulled or unwound from the form, substantially as shown in Figure 21.

The mechanism for rotating the forms 35, while the same arepaused at station R, may be precisely the same as the mechanism described in connection with rotation of the forms at station S. For this reason like parts have been given like numerals (see Figures 7 and 9).

As best shown in Figures 20 and 22, the spaced pins I65 may be fixed in the ends of a pair of relatively shiftable arms I66, I66 pivoted intermediate the ends thereof at I61 to a quadrant I68, the latter being fixed on a shaft I69 suitably journalled in frame 48 and a plate I18 carried by the brackets I32 I32 on frame 48. The provision of two arms I66 swingable relative to each other on pivot I61 permits the pins I65 to conform to forms 35 having tapered sides. Quadrant I68 normally extends inwardly from shaft I69 toward the forms 35. A compression spring I1I may extend between an upturned flange I12 of an angle-iron I13 onquadrant I68 and the strip-grasping ends of arms I66, normally to urge hooks I65 in the direction of the path of the forms, until limited by a screw I14, adjustably threaded through a flange I15 on the extensions I66 of arms I66 on the other side of pivot I61, engaging flange I12.

Mounted on the free end of quadrant I66 may be a guard plate I16 which curves outwardly of path of forms and forwardly of hooks I65, from a point closely adjacent the end of hooks I65. While quadrant I68 is being swung from the position thereof shown in Figure 20 to the position shown in Figure 21, form 35 from which strip 31 is to, be removed being meanwhile rotated, the strip 31 while stretched between hooks I65 and'form 35 conforms about plate I16. As.

quadrant I68 reaches the position thereof shown in Figure 21 the extensions I66 of arms I66 engage a pin I11 in plate I18, swinging arms I66 on pivot I61, against the yielding action of spring I1I, thereby to disengage the hooks I65 from the end of strip 31 by withdrawing the hooks through a series of cooperating slots I18, I18 in guardplate I16. Substantially at this point the strip 31, being disengaged both from the hooks I65 and from its form 35, snaps free into a suitable receptacle (not shown). Before the form 35 from which the strip 31 has been removed moves forwardly toward another operation the quadrant I68 is swung back to the relative position thereof shown in Figure 20, extensions I66 then disengaging pin I11 to allow the spring I1I to swing arms I68 on pivot I61, thereby to expose the ends of hooks I65 in the path of forms 35 prior to the next succeeding strip removing operation.

For intermittently reciprocating the'quadrant I68 for the successive strip-removing operations as described, shaft I69 may have a crank-arm I18 fixed thereon, to the free end of which is pivotallyconnected at I88 one end of a link IN, the other end of the latter being pivoted to an eccentric'pin I82 in a gear I83 whichis rotatable in a stub shaft I84 fixed in frame 48. In engagement with gear I83 may be a gear I85'on a shaft I86, journalled in suitable bearings carried by frame 48, shaft I86 having a bevel-gear I61 engaging a'bevel-gear I88 on a shaft I89 journalled in bearings I98 mounted on support 4I. Shaft I89 has secured thereon a bevel-gear I9I for meshing with a gear I92 on a shaft I93, rotatable in suitable bearings in frame 48 and in a flange I94 of a U-shaped bracket I95 mounted on support 4|. Another bevel-gear I96 on shaft I93 may mesh with a bevel-gear I91 on a stub shaft I98 joumalled in a lug I99 of bracket I94. A shaft 288 journalled in lug 28I of bracket I94 carries a clutch member 282 which is intermittently shiftable into engagement with a cooperating clutch member 283 on shaft I98, and shaft 288 may be continuously driven, through a gear 284 thereon engaging a gear 285 on an auxiliary shaft 286 in bracket I94, by a bevel-gear 281 on shaft 286 engaging a bevel-gear 288 on continuously driven shaft I35.

The clutch members 282 and 283 may be clutchingly engaged, to reciprocate quadrant I68 simultaneously with rotation of the form 35 for the stripping operation. To this end a bellcrank 289, pivoted at 2I8 to support M, has an arm 289 thereof connected to one of the rods I49, the latter being reciprocated by its respective cam I52. An arm 289 of the bell-crank may be connected by a' link 2 to the free end of a lever 2I2, pivoted intermediate its ends at 2I3 to support 4|, the other end of the lever being connected to clutch member 282. A suitable tension spring 2I4 may connect lever 2I2 to insure'that the clutch members 282 and 283 will properly disengage. Thus reciprocation of one of the rods I49 is utilized intermittently to drive the eccentric gear I83 from continuously driven gear 288 on a shaft I35, thereby to reciprocate quadrant I68 carried by shaft I69, as previously described.

The upper end of shaft I93 may have a disc 2I5 thereon against which a pin 2I6 is spring urged, to provide a brake for the mechanism in driving connection with shaft I93 when clutch members 282 and 283 are disengaged.

The mechanism at station R, by removing the strip 31 from the forms 35, provides a straight well-defined top edge 36 at the wrist portion of the goods deposited on the forms (see Figure 3) for the purpose of rolling the reinforcing bead, as later will be described.

Referring particularly to Figures 5, 6, and 23 to 28, the forms 35 upon successively stopping at station B may be yieldably engaged, at the bare wrist portions thereof, between a pair of idler rollers 2I8, 2I8 rotatable on vertical axes and a driven bead-rolling roller 2I9 rotatable on a horizontal axis. While a form 35 in this position is being rotated one revolution, for example, by means subsequently to be described, the beadroller 2I9 preferably is continuously driven,

through a flexible shaft 228 and a belt and pulley mechanism at 22I, by a motor 222. The roller 2I9 may be tapered from a straight portion thereof to the form-entering end thereof (see Figures 5 and '24) to prevent gouging the edge portion 36 of the rubber layer 36 at the start of the bead-rolling operation, and thereby prevent formation of air blisters in the finished bead. Roller 2I9 preferably is of substantially soft rubber covered with a layer of chamoisto reduce the friction against the forms 35 and to prevent the roller from sticking to the rubber material on the form.

Each form 35 may be turned through one revolution at station B in bead-rolling engagement with roller 2l9, by means of sprockets 223, fixed on shafts 61 of each form-carrying head 53, meshing with circumferentially spaced pins of a continuously driven wheel 224. The latter, which is fixed on a shaft 225 suitably journalled in an upright 226 and in support QL'may be driven by a chain 221 extending between a sprocket 228 on the previously described, continuously driven, shaft 81 and an idler sprocket 228 suitably mounted on support 11, the chain 221 being e'ngaged with sprocket 225 on shaft 225 to turn the same in the proper direction. The arrangement is such that the forms may be successively turned through one revolution during the period that sprocket 223 and Wheel 22 3 are engaged with each other, which is substantially the period in which each form is stopped at station B The idler rollers 218 may be carried in the bifurcated end of a plate 238, which is laterally slidable between spaced plates 231 and 232 suitably supported on upright 226. A compression spring 233 normally urges plate 238 outwardly to urge rollers 218 slightly into the path of forms 35, as limited by a pin 234i engaging the end of a slot 235 in plate 231.

The bead roller 219 preferably is journalled in a bracket 236 On the inner end of a slide-plate 231, which is laterally yieldably shiftable in a guide plate 238 carrier, on a block 239, the latter being vertically and angularly adjustable on a vertical shaft 2618 of a bracket 2 11 mounted on support 41. For yieldably urging the roller 219 toward the path of the forms 35, a link 262 may connect between the outer end of plate 231 and the free end of an arm 283 which is fixed on a shaft 244 journalled in a suitable receptacle 265 carried by a plate 286 supported by block 239. A coil spring 281 in receptacle 2125 is connected at its ends to shaft 258 and the receptacl in a known manner for swinging arm 263 inwardly, as limited by a stop pin 268 on plate 226, thereby yieldably to urge slide-plate 231 inwardly. The arrangement is such that as each formcarrying head 53 stops momentarily at station E the form 35 carried thereby is rotated in clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 5 and 24, in lateral yielding engagement between the backing rollers 218 and bead-forming roller 219. Roller 219 preferably is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 23 and 256, 256, which, when the plates 255 are shifted downwardly and inwardly by means to be described, will embrace the ovate shaped periphery of a form 35 at the portion bared by removal of a strip 31 at station R, a form 35 being stopped in its travel for this purpose (see Figure 33).

Plates 255 preferably have downwardly extending flanges 255 at the ends thereof in which are slots 256 for receiving pins 251 extending from inwardly extending legs of U-shaped supports 251, 251, the latter having downwardly extending arms 258, 258 pivotally connected at 259, 259 to the upturned ends of a U-shaped member 260. Member 268 preferably is supported on a shaft 261 which is vertically reciprocable in abearing 262 in supporting frame 4!, and an arm 263, pivoted at 264 to shaft 261, may be eccentrically connected at 265 to a shaft 266 driven in a known manner (not shown), as by mechanism similar to that used for intermittently rotating the forms at stations S and R, thereby intermittently to reciprocate the U-shaped member 269 once each time a form pauses at the bead-rolling stations. Grooved rollers 261, 261, carried by brackets 268, 268 extending inwardly from uprights 269, 269 on support 81 are positioned to engage straight edge portions 266 on member 268 to guide the same in its vertical movement. The plates 255 may be normally yieldably urged inwardly toward each other on their respective supports 251, until pins 251 abut the ends of slots 256, by means of a compression spring 258 extending between lugs 258 and 258, on arms 258 and plates 255, respectively, there beinga rod 258 on each lugs 258 slidably extended through openings in lugs 258 for retaining springs 258 in place.

In all positions of the bead-forming mechanism, springs 218, 218, extending between uprights 269 and brackets258, yieldably urge the outer edge portions 211 of brackets 258 outwardly against a pair of rollers 212, 212,'mounted at the upper end of uprights 269. The outer edge portions 211 of brackets 258 preferably are is vertically positioned to engage the top edge 36 of the goods 36 and thereby roll down a continuous bead 38 (see Figure 4).

The forms 35 upon leaving station B preferably paus at a second bead-rolling station B (see Figure 5), where a bead-roller 219 on flexible shaft 228 may be positioned slightly lower than roller 219, for the purpose of further rolling the beads 38 downwardly on the forms, thereby to insure obtaining a uniform bead.

The bead-rolling mechanism at station B pref erably is substantially thesame as that at station E the drive for the form-turning shaft 225 thereof being obtained through a chain 249 connecting sprockets 250 and 251 on shafts 225 and shaft 225, respectively (see Figure 10).

In Figures 29 to 34 is illustrated a modified form of bead-rolling mechanism, which may readily be substituted for the bead-rolling mechanism atstation B previously described in connection with Figures 5, 6 and 23 to 28.

Disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of forms 35 may be a pair of cooperating shiftable plates 255, 255, each of which carries a curved series of closely arranged pads or rollers formed as shown in Figures 29 and 32, to provide cam surfaces which in the inoperative position of member 266, shown in Figure 29, permit brackets 258 and the mechanism carried thereon to be swung outwardly from the path of travel of forms 35.

The rollers 256 preferably have outer layers of soft rubber covered by a layer 215 of chamois leather, and are fixed on suitably curved flexible shafts 216, 216 journalled in a plurality of lugs 211, 211 secured on the under sides of plates 255. As best shown in Figure 30, the shafts 216 may have downwardly angularly extended arms 218, 218 fixed thereon, the ends of the arms preferably being bifurcated at 219 to receive the ends of the L-shaped pins 288 carried by suitably shaped bars 281, 281. The bars 281 preferably are normally yieldably held in-the downward positions thereof by means of rods 282 extending upwardly through the plates 255 and slidable in. housings 283 thereon, and a spring 284 may be provided in each housing for yieldably urging a collar 285 on rod 282 against plate 255.

Downward movement of U-shaped member 260 causes rollers 212 to engage raised portions on cam surface 211 of arms 258, thereby yieldably to urge the rollers inwardly initially to engage the portion on a form 35 bared by removal of a strip 31 by a previous strip removing operation at station R, the form 35 having been conveyed into' a stopped cooperative position between the plates 255 by the conveyor mechanism previously described. Upon continued downward movement of plates 255 pins 236 on the bars 28I may be engageable with inwardly extending flanges 26!! on the uprights 268 to urge the pins 286 upwardly against the yielding action of springs 284, the pins 280 on bars 28I thereby swinging arms 218 on shafts 216 upwardly and rolling rollers 256 downwardly about the forms 35 (see Figures 31 to 34). This downward and rolling action of the rollers 256 engages the top edge 36 of the rubber layer 36 on the form and rolls a continuous bead portion on the goods. The upward stroke of member 260 conversely moves the plates I55, carrying rollers 256, upwardly and outwardly away from form 35 to allow the latter to be carried forwardly to the next operating station.

Before describing the continuous operation of the complete apparatus previously described it first should be understood that informing dipped rubber latex or the like it has been the practice to perform thedipping operations with the finger portions of the forms extending upwardly in the latex tank (not shown) to obtain goods of uniform thickness. of rubber allover the form, including the usual flat end portion thereof. Heretofore, it has been difficult to trim the excess rubber away from the flat or wrist end of the glove by mechanical means and still leave a well defined edge for forming the bead on the glove.

In the operation of the glove making apparatus the glove forms 35, having layers of rubber completely covering the same, are first releasably attached at the lower ends of form-carrying heads 53, by means of the attaching mechanism 62 (see Figures 12 and 14), while the heads 53 are progressively stopped at station L. As these forms are supplied to the heads 53 the continuously driven motor 39, through intermittent gearing 18, 19, progressively carries the forms 35 to momentary stopping positions at the various operating stations.

Upon stopping at station S the forms 35 yieldably engage the heated pair of knives 33 so that rotation of the forms against the knives cuts a continuous band or strip 31 in the glove 36 to trim the same to predetermined length. The yielding action of the springs I33 and IIII between bracket 91 and slide bars 32, 33 allows the knives 90 to be laterally relatively shiftable to conform to forms 35 having either vertically straight or slightly tapered wrist portions thereon. The springs H5 and IIS acting on the arms H and H6 (see Figure 16) yieldably allow the bracket 91 to shift laterally, thereby to conform knives 96 with substantially uniform pressure to ovate or otherwise irregular cross-sections of the wrist portions of forms 35 as the forms are rotated.

As the heads move from position I toward a stop position at station It the hooks I65 carried by quadrant I68 engage the continuous strip 31 to pull it away from the form 35, as shown in Figure 20. Simultaneously with rotation of the form 35, in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 21, the quadrant I63 is swung on its pivot I69 to unwind the strip from the form, whereupon the extension I66 engaging pin I11 withdraws the hooks I65 through slots I18 in guard I16, the hooks thereby becoming disengaged from the broken end of the strip 31 to allow the strip which has been in stretched condition, to snap free and drop into a suitable receptacle (not shown). Removal of strip 31 7 This of course forms a layer 25 leaves a well-defined top edge 36 on the goods 36 and removes a sufllcient amount of excess rubber stock adjacent said edge to facilitate rolling the reinforcing beads on the goods at sta- 5 tions B and B Before the forms 35 leave station R quadrant I68 is swung back to theposition thereof shown in Figure 20 for the next succeeding stripping operation.

After leaving station R the forms 35 progressively are stopped at stations B and B where, as best shown in Figures 9 and 23, the continuously driven rollers 2I9 engage the top edge 36 of goods 36 to roll down the beads 38 as the forms are rotated by means of sprocket 223 on shafts 6| engaging the driven wheel 224. A uniform yielding pressure of the roller 2I9 against forms 35, as the latter are rotated, is obtained through the spring 261 acting on slide plate 231 carrying roller 2I9 and spring 233 acting on plate'230 carrying rollers 2 I8, thereby to accommodate the ovate cross-section of the forms. .It is understood that the bead rolling operation may also be performed by means of the mechanism shown in Figures 29 to 34 and previously described.

The forms 35 with the finished goods 36 thereon may be removed by releasing mechanism 62. while the form-carrying heads 53 are stopped adjacent station L. From this point the forms may be transported to the usual vulcanizing apparatus. The excess rubber stock at the flat end of the form may be removed either before or after the vulcanizing step in any suitable manner as will be understood.

Modifications of the inventionmay be resorted -to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a conveyor for 40 carrying a form having a rubber article theieon,

a pair of cutters for engaging said form while onthe conveyor to cut a continuous strip about the periphery of said article and thereby to cut the article to length with a trimmed edge, means for removing said strip from said form, and means for rolling the material at said trimmed edge of the article to form a continuous bead.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a conveyor for carrying a rotatable form having'a rubber article thereon, of means for rotating said form, a pair of knives for engaging said form as it is rotated to cut a continuous strip about the periphery of said article, and thereby cut the article to length with a trimmed edge means for removing said strip from said form, and means for rolling the material at said trimmed edge of the article to form a continuous bead.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising the. combination with a conveyor for carrying a rotatable form having a rubber article thereon, of means for rotating said form, a pair of knives shiftable of each other and relatively of said form for engaging said form as it is rotated to cut a continuous strip about the periphery of said article, and thereby cut the article to length with a trimmed edge, means for removing said strip from said form, and means for rolling the material at said trimmed edge portion of the article to form a continuous bead.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a conveyor for carrying rotatable forms having rubber articles thereon, of means for intermittently driving said conveyor progressively to stop said forms at a series ofoperating stations, including trimming, strip-removing and bead-rolling stations, means for intermittently rotating said forms at said stations, a pair of cutters at said trimming stationfor engaging a form to cut a continuous strip about the periphery of the article thereon while said form is rotating, and thereby cut the article to length with a trimmed edge, means at said strip-removing station for engaging and progressively removing said strip from said form while said form is rotating, and means at said bead-rolling station for engaging the trimmed edge portion of said article to roll a continuous bead thereon.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a conveyor for carrying a plurality of rotatable forms having rubber articlesthereon, of a laterally shiftable support, a pair of spaced cutters relatively shiftstrips from the forms to provide trimmed edges on the articles thereon.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a form for having a rubber or like article thereon, of a laterally shiftable support, a pair of spaced cutters on said support, yieldable means for urging said support to engage said cutters with said form, and means for rotating said form while it is engaged with said cutters to make spaced peripheral cuts in the excess rubber of an article on the form, thereby to cut a continuous strip of excess rubber from the body of said article to provide a trimmed edge thereon.

'7. Apparatus of the characters described comprising the combination with a rotatable form, of substantially yieldable means normally positioned yieldingly to engage said form to grasp a strip of material thereon, means for shifting said grasping means outwardly of said form to pull the strip from the form, means for rotating said form simultaneously with said outward movement of said graspingmeans to unwind said strip from said form, and means for releasing said strip from said grasping means.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a rotatable form, of means normally positioned yieldingly to engage said form to grasp a continuous peripheral strip of flexible frangible material thereon. means for shifting said grasping means outwardly of said form, means for rotating said form simultaneously with said outward movement of said grasping ing means to sever and remove said strip from said form.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a form, of means for grasping a continuous peripheral strip of frangible material on said form, means for relatively shifting said grasping means and form to pull said strip outwardly of the form and thereby sever the strip, and means for releasing the severed strip from said grasping means after the strip is pulled from the form.

11. Apparatus of the character described com- I prising the combination with a form, of yieldable means yieldingly engageable with said form for grasping a continuous strip of frangible material on said form, and means for relatively shifting said grasping means and form to pull said strip from the form, thereby to sever the strip and release the same from the form.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combinaiton with a curvilinear form for a rubber article, of a shiftable support, a'

member yieldably shiftably mounted on said support, a curvilinear flexible shaft rotatable on said shiftable member, a series of rubbing elements mounted on said shaft, means for shifting said support longitudinally of said form, and

I means for rotating said shaft to turn said elemeans to sever said strip and unwind the same frangible material thereon, means for shifting said grasping means outwardly of said form, and means for relatively moving said form transversely with respect to said grasping means simulta-' neously with said outward shifting of the grasps 7 ments against the form in the direction of said longitudinal movement of said elements to roll a bead at an open endof said article, said elements engaging the form against the yieldable shifting action of said member on said support.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a form for a ubber article, of a shiftable support, a yieldablc member relatively shiftable on said support, a curvilinear flexible shaft rotatable on said member, a series of rubbing elements on said shaft,

means for shifting said support toward said form to engage said elements about said form, means for shifting said support longitudinally of said form, and means operable by said longitudinal shifting of said support for rotating said shaft to turn said elements against the form in the direction of said longitudinal movement of said elements to roll a bead at an open end of said article.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a form for a tub ber article, of a shiftable support, a yieldable member relatively shiftable on said support, a curvilinear flexible shaft rotatable on said member, a series of rubbing elements on said shaft, means for shifting said support toward said form to engage said elements about said form, means for shifting said support longitudinally of said form, and means yieldingly operable by said longitudinal shifting of said support for rotating 1 said shaft to turn said elements against the form in the direction of said longitudinal movement of said elements to roll a bead at an open end of said article. v

15. Apparatus ofthe character described comprising the combination with a rotatable form for a rubber article, of meansfor rotating said form, a support, ,a rotatable roller on said sup- 

